Programme Manager: Job profile

As a programme manager, you overlook a multitude of projects within a company. Your work includes overseeing the planning, the budgeting, the risk management and aspects of compliance and governance. Unlike a project manager, you ensure that all interconnecting projects in your company work smoothly together. A programme manager develops and oversees the strategy for the organisational goals. You want to find out what exactly it takes to become a successful programme manager? This post will give you a more profound understanding of the educational background, experience and mindset that is necessary to succeed in this role.

Short Summary

• Programme managers are laying out the strategy for the company’s goals and oversee multiple projects.
• They have exceptional organisational and leadership skills as well as in-depth knowledge of project management methods
• For a successful career as a programme manager, it is important to possess exceptional educational qualifications as well as negotiation, analytical and leadership skills.

Job description

A programme manager is responsible for the institution’s strategic goals. This involves the developing and planning of new projects as well as overseeing the success of the individual projects. Unlike the project managers, that a programme manager supervises, you will ensure all interconnecting programmes work towards the strategic goal that you set for the institution. As such, a programme manager is responsible for the strategic and financial success of the institution.

Responsibilities

• Creating and planning new programmes for the institution
• Driving the institution’s strategic goals
• Managing a team of project managers
• Manage the stakeholders
• Monitor the risk management
• Manage budget and resources
• Ensure that programmes meet compliance and governance regulations
• Manage resources and oversee deadlines
• survey the programmes of competitive institutions

Different types

• Internal programme manager
• External programme manager
• Services programme manager
• Principle programme manager
• Technical programme manager
• Agile programme manager
• IT programme manager
• Software programme manager
• Infrastructure programme manager
• Change programme manager

Salary

A programme managers’ salary depends on various factors. Junior programme managers earn an average annual salary of about £40.000. As a senior programme manager in the UK, you can expect to earn about £75.000 annually. Programme managers that work in the private sector often receive multiple benefits, such as bonuses and allowances.

Working hours

The job of a programme manager is office-based. They spend their days at a computer, on the phone and in meetings. On paper, a programme manager works regular office hours. In reality, a programme manager will face overtime and irregular schedules.

As programme managers are part of the executive team of an institution, they primarily have to ensure the success of the projects they are overseeing instead of working from 9 to 5.

Employers

Programme managers are employed both by the private and the public sector. As programme managers overlook a multitude of projects, mostly big companies and international institutions will have the need to employ programme managers.

Apart from that, consulting firms employ programme managers. In this case, you will be employed by the consulting firm but work as a programme manager for one of their clients. Often enough, you will be delegated to this company and work in one of their offices at least for a couple of days each week.

Qualifications

To become a programme manager in the UK, candidates are expected to present certain qualifications and skills. The specific requirements might vary depending on the employer, in most cases candidates are expected to hold at least some form of university qualification such as a bachelor’s or more often a master’s degree. Most institutions look for candidates with a master’s degree in business administration or a related field. Some institutions consider candidates with a bachelor’s degree and an additional project management certification.

Aside from university qualifications and degrees, candidates are expected to have in-depth knowledge of project-management methods and in various programme management software tools.

Skills

Programme managers are responsible for the driving of the institution’s strategic goals and the economic growth. Therefore, programme managers are expected to have not only outstanding academical qualifications but also various prerequisite skills, such as being outstanding planers and having exceptional leadership skills.

Analytical Skills

Analytical skills enable you to collect, interpret and evaluate data, situations or information, understand their patterns and draw conclusions. Key components of an analytical mindset are:

• Research skills: This includes the ability to know where to find relevant information and how to evaluate its reliability.
• Logical Reasoning: This involves the ability to deductive and inductive reasoning.
• Attention to Detail: This means paying close attention to patterns or discrepancies.

Leadership Skills

As a programme manager, you oversee various projects and ensure that they run according to the companies’ strategic goals. Therefore, you need to have exceptional leadership qualities. A programme manager needs not only to effectively guide and motivate others, but also influence them to achieve the goals they set. Leadership skills include a set of various abilities and qualities, such as

• Communication: Programme managers need to clearly convey their thoughts and ideas.
• Motivation: As a programme manager, it is your responsibility to inspire and motivate your team by recognizing and appreciating their strengths and efforts.
• Adaptability: Programme managers often work in rapidly changing environments. Therefore, they need to be adaptable and flexible.
• Negotiation: Leadership qualities include the ability to delegate tasks and responsibilities to the right person.

Negotiation Skills

Negotiation skills are essential for programme managers to achieve the goals they have defined for their institution. This ability involves the ability to understand the interests of the other party, communicate effectively and then reach a mutually satisfactory agreement. Negotiation skills are based on various elements and strategies:

• Active Listening: By paying attention to verbal and non-verbal cues, you gain a more profound insight into the priorities of the other party. Active listening also involves asking clarifying questions.
• Emotional intelligence: Being aware of your emotions and able to manage them puts you in a stronger position and makes it easier for you to achieve the desired outcome of the negotiations.
• Flexibility and problem-solving skills: It is the nature of a negotiation that there is a gap between the interests and positions of the participating parties. Flexibility and problem-solving skills allow you to evaluate options, assess risks and identify potential trade-offs.

Career Path

To become a successful programme manager, you will be expected to hold at least a bachelor’s degree in a field such as project management and additional specific certifications. Most employers will seek out applicants that hold a master’s degree in business administration are some related field. To enter the career path as a programme manager, a vast amount of education and experience is necessary.

Educational Background

Which educational background is required to start a career as a programme manager depends on the industry and the size of the enterprise. Therefore, you should check out the individual requirements that have to be met in companies and industries that interest you most.

Many employers expect candidates to hold a master’s degree in business administration, computer science, communications or a related field. Alternatively, there are programs that offer certifications as a programme manager. These are an addition to a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree in a field, that does not qualify a person to be a programme manager.

Gaining Experience

Even for an entry role in the field of programme management, practical experience is mandatory. Typically, programme managers come from a project management background. Therefore, they understand how to lead a team, accomplish a goal, prioritise tasks and delegate tasks to the right person on the team. Having gained practical experience in business processes, such as budgeting and controlling, is also something candidates are expected to possess.

Continuous Learning

Continuous learning is essential if you want to stay in the business as a programme manager, and even more so if you plan to climb the career ladder even further. Continuous learning includes the willingness to acquire professional certifications, that can enhance your knowledge and credibility as a programme manager.

Apart from this, you might consider specialising in an industry or sector such as finance, healthcare, IT or the public sector you are most interested in.

A Day in the Life of a Programme Manager

Although a typical day in the life of a programme manager mainly consists of working at their desk or at least within an office building, the tasks are all but routine. The job as a programme manager is challenging, stressful and versatile.

In the following sections, we will focus on three of the multiple tasks or aspects that will be part of your everyday working schedule.

Laying out strategies

As a programme manager, your role involves laying out the strategies for the institution’s goals. To develop those strategies, you have to take logical and creative as well as instinct aspects into account. You meet business objectives by successfully designing, implementing and guiding programmes that follow the strategy that you developed. If issues arise, you create fast and effective solutions that will assure the institution’s strategic goals can still be met.

Leading teams and external partners

Programme managers set the goals that guarantee the success of an institution. To achieve those goals, you overlook the related operations within the institution. You guide and manage the teams and external partners that are related to the successful outcome of the programmes. This requires a combination of leadership skills, negotiation skills, effective communication and the ability to motivate individuals.

Analysing and controlling processes

Programme managing is based on ongoing analysing and controlling processes. Before developing the institution’s goals, a programme manager analyses not only the processes within the institution but also the market. To ensure the success, all interconnecting teams and external partners have to work closely together, which will be controlled by the programme manager. By analysing all projects and activities on a regular basis, the programme manager can react fast and effectively when issues arise.

Tips for Thriving as a Programme Manager

Getting through the door and entering the world of programme management asks a vast amount of educational background, experience and a wide range of soft skills. If you want to move up the ranks, you need the right amount of perseverance and dedication. Here are three tips for thriving in the field of programme management:

• Increasing capability as a leader
• Increasing ability to multitask
• Building relationships

Increasing capability as a leader

A programme manager will always need to be a natural leader. But there is always potential to increase your capability as a leader. Effective leadership involves a combination of several skills, qualities and behaviours, that you can train and improve as:

• Communication: Good communication skills include the ability to articulate your ideas and expectations clearly and listen actively to others at the same time.
• Decisiveness: Leaders are expected to make timely and effective decisions in challenging situations, that are built on the gathering of information, weighing of options and, in consequence, taking responsibility for their choices.

Increasing ability to multitask

The ability to multitask refers to both the ability to perform multiple tasks simultaneously and switching rapidly between different tasks. A successful programme manager needs to improve the ability to switch rapidly between different tasks. This demands the ability to refocus fast and being able to fully engage in the task that needs attention.

Building relationships

Programme managers need to cultivate their relationships within the institution and further abroad. They will not only gain a better understanding of the stakeholders’ needs, but also increase the programme managers’ value itself. Building a business network can be achieved by taking on responsibilities outside the workplace by attending training sessions related to programme management, the industry they want to focus on or local conferences and seminars.

Frequently Asked Questions